Helene is strengthening as it moves toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. It is expected to become a hurricane today and will hit Florida's Big Bend on Thursday.

Helene now a hurricane as it targets Florida with life-threatening storm surge ahead of landfall: Live updates - Hurricane Helene will likely strengthen to a Category 3 storm before making landfall in

The highest landfall probability is somewhere along the eastern part of the Florida Panhandle late Thursday evening, forecasters said.